Coin-controlled vending-machine.



No. 794,557. v PATEN'IED JULY Il, 1905. J. L. SIMMONS.

COIN GONTROLLED VENDING MAGHI-NE.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 9,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 794,557. l PATENTED JULY 11, 1905. 1. L. SIMMONS.

GOIN GONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 9,1904.

2 sHBBTs-SHEBT 2.

' UNITED STATES,

atented Julyl Ill, 12905.

PATENT, OFFICE.

JAMES LEE SIMMONS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, lASSIGrNOR `TO WASHINGTON VENDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

oo'lN-ooNTRoLLED vENDlNe-'MAoi-um.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,557, dated July 11, 1905.

Application led April 9, 1904. Serial No. 202,383.

To all whom t may concern.: v

Be it known that I, JAMES LEE SIMMONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Vending-Machines; and. I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My -invention relates to coin-controlled apparatus, having particular reference to machines for automatically vending or delivering packages or articles of merchandise in exchange for a coin of proper value deposited therein. f

More particularly stated, the invention comprises a weatherproof cabinet possessing ceri tain novel features of construction, fraud-preventing mechanism for distinguishing between coins of proper value and spurious tokens, and, finally, novel lock-releasing and actuating mechanism, as will hereinafter more fully and at large appear, and be particularly pointed out in the claims following this specication.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and whereon similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, Figure l is an exterior perspective view, upon greatly-reduced scale, of my invention in its entirety. Fig. 2

is a side elevation showing working parts in operative position within the cabinet, one side of the latter having been removed and opposite ends of the merchandise-magazine being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of working parts with lid of the cabinet removed for the purpose of exposing same .to View and taken through the lower extremity of the magazine, which therefore appears in section. Fig. 4 illustrates in side elevation a modified form of the rotary merchandise-ejectors appearing in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of' the fraud-preventing, the lock-releasing, and the actuating mechanisms, with exception of the rotary ejectors, which are omitted for purposes of clearness. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View, also in side elevation, of certain parts contained in Fig. 5, one side plate having been removed in this figure and all parts of both appearing in their normal relation. Figs. 7 and 8 respectively are counterparts of the preceding Figs. 5 and 6, except that all moving parts are shown advanced to the second or intermediate stage of operation. Fig. 9 is also a side elevation the reverse of that illustrated by Fig. 5, the secondary position of the locking mechanism being shown in this ligure by dotted lines. Fig. 10 is a greatly-enlarged transverse section taken on the line l() l0, Fig. 9, showing side plates of the coin-conduit and an intermediate knife-edge fraud-preventing rail or runway. Fig. llis'a `similarly-enlarged vertical section (indicated at ll 11, Fig. 9) through the oscillatory counterbalanced'fraud-preventing trap in its normal position at lower end of the coin-conduit. Fig. 12 is a view corresponding with Fig. 1l, but showing `inaddition a proper coin in course of transit over the floor of the trapv aforesaid; and Fig. 13, a View corresponding withFig. l2, except that a metallic washer has been substituted for the proper coin in this figure and is shown in the course of ejectment. A

` Attention being -directed to the drawings, and letters of reference thereon, A indicates a cabinet which at the outstart, it should be understood, may be made of any suitable material, cast or sheet metal being preferred for purposes of lightness, durability, and economy of manufacture. The presentillustrations, however, show a wooden structure as an embodiment of the invention, comprising, generally stated, a base A, sides A2 A2, rising vertically therefrom, a compartment A3 for containing the working parts of the in-l vention, a removable closure A* for 'the back of said compartment, 'a compartment A5 beneath containing a sliding money-drawer A6, a forward delivery compartment A7, separated from those aforesaid by a suitable transverse partition A8, a front or closure A9 for the upper portion of compartment A7, a removable lockable lid A10 for covering said delivery compartment, a superposed merchandise magazine or magazines A, a fixed top and back A12 A13, respectively, for said magazines, and a removable face A for same, all gained and mortised together in manner and form to produce an absolutely weatherproof and secure cabinet, as shown by Figs. l, 2, and 3.

To sides A2A2, withinvcompartment A3, are located brackets B B, constituting an open bearing for the removable shaft 'C and the main support for all moving parts of the invention. Upon said shaft C are secured rotary ejectors D E, each comprising a series of radial arms marked c a ce and a c a, respectively, the arms of each ejector being staggered with relation to those of the other ejector, as best shown by Fig. 2. In the present instance but two such ejectors are shown, each having three arms a and a'; but obviously the number` of ejectors, and likewise of their arms a c, may be varied indefinitely, according to needs and requirements of any particular vending-machine, an instance appearing in Fig. 4. of the drawings, which shows an additional arm t2 upon ejector D. Upon shaft C is also similarly secured a star-wheel F, which in the present instance occupies a position intermediate of ejectors D E and serves as the means of rotating same at predetermined intervals by agency of a pusher-rod, as will later appear.

Upon shaft C is also loosely mounted or hung the extended sides G H of a coin-conduit, which sides at this point {iank and partially inclose star-wheel F, as shown by Figs. 5, 7, and 9. The sides G H are spaced according to thickness of the coins for which the machine is constructed, a space-bar b retaining them in their proper relative position y at the upper edge and adownwardly-inclined coin track or way c servingto similarly space them at the lower edge in conjunction with space-blocks Z c, of corresponding thickness, situated below and beyond said track or way c. At their outer ends the side plates G H and track c, forming the coin conduit or runway, are projected through partition A8 and front A9 of the cabinet and finished by an escutcheon-plate f, as shown4 by Fig. 1. Immediately inside of said front A9 sides (Jr H are broken away, as at g, and below such openings the coin track or way c is sharpened to a knife-edge L, upon which only a coin or token of proper dimensions and tread 4Will roll successfully, all others being by this means precipitated into the delivery-compartment A7 beneath.

Upon the side G is pivotally mounted an oscillatory counterbalanced fraud-preventing trap l, the angular platform a' whereof normally rests directly in line with coin-track c between same and the lowermost point of star-wheel F and is adapted to permit the escape of an improper coin. Projecting from said trap member at a point above its pivotal support is an angular spur J, which is adapted when said trap-platform is overbalanced to be automatically thrust through an opening j in side H, for purposes which will later appear. Directly opposite this trap member l the side plate G is broken by a cast-out opening K, the dimensions whereof are slightly less than that of the coin employed, thus furnishing a lateral support for a proper coin and in conjunction with the trap aforesaid constituting the linal fraud-preventing mechanism, as will hereinafter appear in connection with a statement of operation of the invention.

Protruding from the front Ag and continuing thence through partition As of the cabinet is areciprocating coin-moving pusher-rod L, its innermost end guided between that of the tapering coin-track @and a T-bolt M, the latter in turn resting upon space-blocks d c, before mentioned. The bolt M, with its integral depending member c, has also al l-imited reciprocating movement equal to the distance between blocks cl e, as clearly shown by Figs..6 and 8 of the drawings. The leading oradvance end Z of bolt M is beveled or tapered slightly and adapted to be projected beneath the platform c' of trap I for the purpose of raising same slightly and temporarily locking it in such elevated position during passage of a proper coin.

To the dependent arm 7c of bolt M is pivoted a floating lever N, which rising obliquely finds a slotted bearing upon push-rod L by agency of a pin m projecting therefrom and traveling in a slot n of the side plate G to insure freedom of action and at the same time limit the thrust of rod L in both directions. Between the upper extremity of lever N and a fixed point of support upon side plate G is interposed a tension-spring O, the functions whereof are, first, to actuate the trap-locking bolt M, and, secondly, to return all reciprocating parts to their normal positions after each delivery from the machine.

The normal tendency4 of bolt M is to advance under influence of spring O, transmitted through lever N; but a glance at Figs. 6 and 8 makes it apparent that said bolt is held in check by the downturned extremity 0 of rod L until such time as said rod is thrust forward. Thereupon the released bolt immediately assumes the position indicated by Fig. 8, remaining in such position until similarly withdrawn by the reverse movement of rod L under the more direct reaction of spring O. Above the lower end of the coin-conduit and pivotally mounted upon sides G H thereof is a vertically-movable latch or lock P, directly in line with the star-wheel F, rotation of which it thus normally obstructs. In pivotal connection with said lock P is a depend- IOO IOS

IIO

IZO

ing lock-releasing link Q, its slotted lower end p guided by a headed pin q, aiixed in side plate H.

Directly opposite the horizontal slot n of plate G the plate H is similarly broken by a corresponding slot r, through which latter the pin m, carried by rod L as aforesaid, projects and travels directly in the path of the lock-releasing link Q. Owing to the doubleinclined shape of the lower extremity of said linkQ, same is slightly raised by each passage of the projecting pin m, thus temporarily elevating latch P and releasingl the star-wheel F.

Having thus described my invention in what at present I regard as the preferred form of construction, it should be understood that I by no means. limit myself to the particular construction herein set forth. On the contrary, various changes in construction, the proportion and arrangement of parts will present themselves to persons skilled in this artand may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as hereinafter claimed.

Referring again to the drawings of this ap-.

plication as illustrating one embodiment of my invention, its use and operation may be set forth as follows:

` A coin ofthe proper denomination intro- 'i duced th rough the entrance-slotin escutcheonplatef travels down coin track ory way c, over its knife-edge section t, between. side walls G H of the conduit and is deposited upon the angular platform of trap I, where it temporarily rests against the slightly-receding curved face of one point of star-wheel F. In this first position (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7) it will be seen ythe coin bridges cast-l out opening K of side plate G and although of greater weight than c ounterbalance fails to rock trap I upon its pivotal bearings because of the obstruction and locking action 'of the coin itself against a forward movement of spur J. The pusher-rod L is now thrust forward against tension of the spring O, whereupon locking-bolt M, no vlonger restrained by the downturned end 0 of said rod,

is shot forward beneath platform z' by actionof said spring transmitted through the intermediate floating lever N to the position indicated by Figs. 7 and 8, thus elevating platform c' by agency of the incline Z to a position where all pressure from spur J is removed from the side of the coin to facilitate its further advance across the platform z' during further movement of rod L. In practice this feature of construction is advisable, although the actuating mechanism is .effective in the absence of bolt M and correlative parts. Simultaneously with the release of bolt M as aforesaid the pin m, projecting through side plate H, momentarily elevates link Q, by passage thereunder and through the latter acts.

likewise to elevate lock or latch P, whereupon the star-wheel F is released and freed to turn with its axis the shaft C. Continued movement `one direction.

of rod L now advances the coin from the first to' the second position (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7) and by agency of the coin itself ropackage, or article'g/icontained in the superposed magazine-compartmentAu. This thereyupon gravitates down a suitableslotted ineline a into delivery-compartmentA?, where yit is accessible to the purchaser, the single lspring O returning all moving parts toI their normal positions, with exception only of said star-wheel and ejectors rotatable only in the Repetition of the operation results similarly in the delivery of a box,

package, or article from an adjacent rindependent magazine-'hopper by agency of blades 'la' upon ejector E, which regularly alternate inv their action with those of ejector D, owing to the staggered position of the blades of l'each ejector upon the common shaft C. In

the same manner merchandise may bek successively delivered from a series of parallel .magazine-hoppers, suchas A, each operated by an ejector bladeor blades mounted upon shaft C in the proper relative position, or obviously two or more such magazines may ythus be caused to deliver simultaneously, or

if desired to deliver one additional package-in every stated number upon the deposit of a means of an additional blade upon one ejector-aa for example, a blade a2, appearing upon'ejector D of modified Fig. 4. In this construction blades a a will deliver alternately except at such times as the additional blade a2 goes into action, when the two hop- Apers will deliver simultaneously. If now a spurious, irregular, or mutilated coin or valueless token be introduced through the escutcheon-plate f with intention of defrauding or injuring the machine, same will either slip off the knife-edge /L of coin-track c into the open delivery-compartment A7 or in the event it approximates the size and shape of the proper coin may succeed in travelingl same.` In the latter event, presuming the worthless piece to be an ordinaryA metallic washer the size of the proper coin, same will next fall upon platform of trap I, as indicated by Fig. 13, overbalancing its counterweight m, causing a withdrawal of platform t' and ejectment of the washer, as shown by said Fig. 13, owing to the fact that, differing from an unbroken coin, the central opening in the washer affords no support or` resistance for spur J. If a washer or other token of smaller diameter succeeds in reaching the aforesaid fraud-preventing trap, it will then be similarly ejected, provided its aperture is large enough to receive the point of spur J;

but if, on the other hand, such aperture be not single coin this may beaccomplished by IOO in line with said spur the piece will in that case be ejected sidewise through cast-out opening KV wall G, in turn serves as an obstruction tothe forward or oscillatory movement ofl spur J. It will also be noted that bolt M, lunder control `of the pusher-rod L, constitutes a supplemental lock for the oscillatory platform during passage of a proper coin thereoverv and at the same time performs the additional function of slightly elevating said platform to partially relieve from needless pressure of spur J, thus relieving both the coin and spur from undue wear.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a coin-controlled vending-machine the combination with a coin-track, rof an oscillatory .platform constituting lpart of 'said track, and means for locking. said platform in operative position duringy passage of a proper coin thereover, substantially as described.

2. In a coin-contrqlled vending-machine the combination with ac'oin-track, of an oscillatory platform constituting part of said track and adapted to permit the escape of an improper coin, and means for'locking said platform in operative position during. passage of a proper coin thereover, substantially as described.

,3. In a coin-controlled vending-machine the combination with a coin-track, of an oscillatory platform constituting part of said track and adapted to permit the escape of animproper coin, and means for automatically locking said platform in position during passage of a proper coin thereover, substantially as described.

4. In a coin-controlled vending-machine the combination with -a coin-track, of an oscillatory platform constituting part offsaid track and adapted to permit the escape of an improper coin, a pusher-rod, and means under control of. said rod for locking` the platform in position to permit the passage of a proper coin thereover, substantially as described.

5. In a coin-controlled vending-machinethe combination with a coin-track formed of two relatively fixed sections, of an oscillatory platform intermediate of said sections andi adapted to permit the escape of an improper coin, and means position to permit the passage of a proper a proper coin in transitfor lockingY said platform inv coin `from one'track-section tothe other, sub- 6,5

stantially asv described.

6. In a coin-controlled vending-machine the combination with a lcoin-track, of an oscillatory platform constituting part of said track and adapted to permit the escape of van improper coin means for'arresting a coin upon said platform, a pusher-rod, and means under control lof said` rod for locking the platform aforesaid during passage of a proper coin thereover, substantially as described.

7 In a coin-controlled vending-machine the combination with a coin-track, of an oscillatory platform constituting part of said track and adapted to permit theescape of an improper coin, astar-wheel for arrestinga coin upon said platform` a pusher-rod for rotating the star-wheel, a latch for. automatically releasing-.said star-wheel, a merchandise-ejector actuated bythe star-wheel, and means under control of said pusher-rod for locking the platform aforesaid in position during passage of a `proper coin thereover, substantially as described.

8. Av-fraud-preventing device for coin-controlled vending-machines consisting of a track or way, means for permitting the escape of an impropercoin from said track or way, and automatic locking devices for said escape means said locking devices including a proper coin .as a component element thereof, substantially as described. l

9. A. fraud-preventing device for coin-controlled vending-machines, consisting of a coin track or way having an oscillatory section adapted to permit the escape'of an improper coin, and automatic locking devices for said escape means said locking devices including a proper coin as a component element thereof, substantially as described.

10. A. fraud-preventing device for coin-controlled vending-machines, consisting of a coin track or way having an oscillatory section adapted to permit'the escape of an improper coin, a lateral support for aproper coin during its passage over said oscillatory section, and a cast-out spur coacting with a proper coin for automatically locking said section duringpassage of such proper coin thereover, substantially as described.

11. In a coin controlled vending machine the combination `with a coin track or way, of means for permitting thewescape of an improper coin from saidtrack-or way, locking means adapted to engage a proper coin and thereby automatically lock said first-named means, and lmechanism for-relieving. the pressure between said locking means and said coin, substantially as described.

12. In a coin-controlled vending.- machine the combination with a coin track or way, of an oscillatory sectionadapted to permit the escape of an improper coin said section havingA acast-out spur adapted to engage a proper coin and thereby to be automatically locked, and mechanism for relieving the pressure between said cast-out spur and said coin, substantially as described.

13. In a coin-controlled vending-machine the combination with a coin-track, of an oscillatory platform constituting part of said track and adapted to permit the escape of an improper coin, a pusher-rod, and a locking-bolt for the platform under control of the pusherrod aforesaid, substantially as described..

14. In a coin controlled vendingmachine the combination with a coin-track, of an oscillatory platform constituting part of said track and adapted to permit. the escape of animproper coin` a pusher-rod, and a spring-actuated locking-bolt under control of the pusherrod for securing said platform during passage of a proper coin thereover, substantiallyT as described.

15. In a coin controlled vending machine the combination with a coin-track,y of an oscillatory platform constituting part of said track and adapted to permit the escape of an improper coin, a pusher-rod, a cast-out spur upon said platform and adapted to coact with a proper coin to automatically lock the platform against oscillation. and a supplemental locking-bolt under control of the pusher-rod for slightly elevating theplatform aforesaid, substantially as described.

16. In a coin-controlled vending-machine the combination with a coin-conduit, of an oscillatory platform pivotally supported upon said conduit, a pusher-rod, a reciprocating bolt adapted to be projected beneath said platform, a floating lever pivotally connected to said bolt and rod, and aspring interposed between said lever and a fixed point of support the normal tendency whereof is to project said bolt and withdraw the pusher-rod, substantially as described.

17. In a coin-controlled vending-machine the combination with a coin-conduit comprising suitable sides and intervening spaceblocks, of an oscillatory platform pivotally mounted upon one of said sides, a cast-out spur carried by and projecting over said platform above its point of pivotal support, and a cast-out space in the other of said sides opposite said spur adapted to permit the escape ofanimproper coin,substantially as described.

18. In a coin-controlled vending-machine the combinationwith acoin-track and a pusherrod, of aspring for returning said rod to normal position, an oscillatory platform constituting part of the coin-track and adapted to be automatically locked during passage of a proper coin thereover by agency of the coin itself, a reciprocating bolt held in check by engagement with the pusher-rod and advanced by the spring aforesaid simultaneously with each advance thrust of the pusher-rod to lock said platform during passage of a proper coin thereover, substantially as described.

19. In a coin -controlled vending machine the com bination with a coin-track and a pusherrod, of a fioating lever carried by said rod, a reciprocating bolt pivotally connected to said lever and held in check by engagement with the pusher-rod, a suitable support for one end of a return-spring in fixed relation with the coin-track, and a spring between said'` support and the ioating lever aforesaid whereby the bolt is advanced and rod and bolt are withdrawn, substantially as described.

20. Ina coin-controlled vending-machine the combination with a coin-track broken by an opening at a point intermediate of its ends, of a counterbalanced oscillatory platform adapted to permit the escape of an improper coin andto close said opening during passage of a proper coin thereover, and a spur rising from and projecting over said platform adapted to lock the platform in operative position by contact with a coin in transit, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I subscribe my signa ture 1n presence of two witnesses.

JAMES LEE SIMMONS.

Witnesses:

HUGH M. STERLING, WM. E. DYRE. 

